Ornamental grasses have become popular choices for container gardening, adding texture, movement, and visual interest to outdoor spaces. Growing these grasses in pots allows for easier control of their spread and simplifies division when needed.
It’s worth noting that container-grown grasses are typically less cold-hardy than those planted in the ground, usually by about two hardiness zones. However, they can be treated as annuals or overwintered indoors in protected areas.
This article presents 11 excellent ornamental grasses well-suited for container growth, each chosen for its adaptability to pot culture and aesthetic appeal.
Blue Fescue
Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca) is a compact, cool-season ornamental grass that forms dense, rounded mounds. It grows 6–12 inches tall and wide, featuring narrow, blue-green to silvery-blue leaves. The grass produces small, pale green or tan flowers in late spring or early summer.
Blue Fescue is drought-tolerant once established and works well in rock gardens, borders, or as a ground cover. It prefers well-drained soil and performs best in full sun, though it can tolerate light shade.
- USDA Hardy Zones: 4-8
- Light: Full sun to light shade
- Soil: Well-drained, average to poor soil
- Colors: Blue-green to silvery-blue foliage, pale green or tan flowers
Pennisetum ‘Rubrum’
Pennisetum ‘Rubrum’, also known as Purple Fountain Grass, is a warm-season ornamental grass that forms upright clumps. It grows 3–5 feet tall and 2–4 feet wide, featuring arching, burgundy-red leaves that deepen in color as the season progresses.
The grass produces soft, fuzzy, bottlebrush-like plumes in late summer, which start pink and mature to tan. ‘Rubrum’ is not cold-hardy in most regions and is often grown as an annual. It performs well in containers and adds texture to mixed borders.
- USDA Hardy Zones: 9-11 (grown as annual in colder zones)
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile soil
- Colors: Burgundy-red foliage, pink to tan plumes
Carex Evergold
Carex Evergold, also known as Variegated Japanese Sedge, is a low-growing, evergreen grass-like plant. It forms compact mounds 12–18 inches tall and wide. The plant features thin, arching leaves with a distinctive cream-colored central stripe and dark green edges.
Carex Evergold thrives in moist, shaded areas, making it suitable for woodland gardens or as a ground cover. It produces insignificant brown flowers in spring. This sedge is slow-spreading and works well in containers or as an edging plant along paths or borders.
- USDA Hardy Zones: 5-9
- Light: Partial to full shade
- Soil: Moist, well-drained soil
- Colors: Cream and green variegated foliage
Japanese Forest Grass
Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra) is a deciduous, clump-forming grass native to Japan. It grows 12–18 inches tall and spreads 18–24 inches wide. The plant features graceful, arching leaves that create a cascading effect.
Foliage is typically bright green, but some cultivars offer golden or variegated options. Japanese Forest Grass prefers partial shade and moist, rich soil. It grows slowly, making it suitable for containers or as a ground cover in shaded areas. The grass produces small, inconspicuous flowers in late summer.
- USDA Hardy Zones: 5-9
- Light: Partial shade to full shade
- Soil: Moist, rich, well-drained soil
- Colors: Green, gold, or variegated (depending on cultivar)
Feather Reed Grass
Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora) is an upright, cool-season grass that forms dense, vertical clumps. It grows 3–5 feet tall and 1.5-2.5 feet wide. The plant features narrow, green leaves and produces feathery, pinkish-green plumes in early summer that mature to golden-tan.
These plumes persist through winter, providing year-round interest. Feather Reed Grass tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and is relatively low-maintenance. It works well as a vertical accent in borders, mass plantings, or as a screen.
- USDA Hardy Zones: 4-9
- Light: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Average to moist, well-drained soil
- Colors: Green foliage, pinkish-green to golden-tan plumes
Fountain Grass
Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides) is a warm-season, clump-forming grass native to Asia. It grows 2–3 feet tall and wide, featuring fine-textured, arching green leaves. The grass produces soft, bottlebrush-like plumes in late summer, which start as pinkish or purple and fade to buff as they mature.
These plumes persist into winter, adding visual interest. Fountain Grass adapts to various soil types and is drought-tolerant once established. It works well in borders, mass plantings, or as a container plant. Some varieties can self-seed, so monitoring may be necessary in certain regions.
- USDA Hardy Zones: 5-9
- Light: Full sun to light shade
- Soil: Well-drained, average soil
- Colors: Green foliage, pinkish-purple to buff plumes
Pampas Grass
Pampas Grass (Cortaderia selloana) is a large, evergreen grass native to South America. It forms dense clumps 6-10 feet tall and 4–6 feet wide. The plant features long, narrow, sharp-edged leaves and produces tall, showy plumes that rise above the foliage in late summer.
These plumes are typically silvery-white but can be pinkish in some varieties. Pampas Grass is fast-growing and drought-tolerant once established. It requires full sun and well-drained soil. Due to its size and potentially invasive nature in some regions, careful placement and management are necessary.
- USDA Hardy Zones: 7-11
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil
- Colors: Green foliage, silvery-white or pink plumes
Little Bluestem
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) is a native North American prairie grass. It forms upright clumps 2-3 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide. The grass features slender, blue-green leaves that turn copper-orange in fall. It produces small, purplish-bronze flowers in late summer, followed by fluffy, silver-white seed heads.
Little Bluestem is drought-tolerant and adapts to poor soils. It provides food and shelter for wildlife and is often used in naturalistic plantings, meadows, or as a low-maintenance lawn alternative. The grass has deep roots, making it effective for erosion control.
- USDA Hardy Zones: 3-9
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Well-drained, poor to average soil
- Colors: Blue-green foliage turning copper-orange; purplish-bronze flowers; silver-white seed heads
Sweet Flag Grass
Sweet Flag Grass (Acorus calamus) is a semi-aquatic perennial plant. It forms spreading clumps 2-3 feet tall and wide. The plant features narrow, sword-like leaves that resemble iris foliage. Sweet Flag produces inconspicuous greenish-yellow flowers on a spadix in spring.
The plant’s rhizomes and leaves have a sweet, spicy aroma when crushed. It thrives in wet soils and shallow water, making it suitable for pond edges or rain gardens. Some varieties offer variegated foliage. Sweet Flag is deer-resistant and has been used traditionally for medicinal purposes.
- USDA Hardy Zones: 4-10
- Light: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Wet to consistently moist soil
- Colors: Green or variegated foliage (depending on variety)
Switchgrass
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a native North American warm-season grass. It forms upright clumps 3-6 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide. The plant features blue-green leaves that turn golden-yellow in fall. Switchgrass produces airy, reddish-purple flower panicles in late summer, which persist into winter.
It has deep roots, making it drought-tolerant and effective for erosion control. Switchgrass adapts to various soil conditions and is low-maintenance. It provides food and cover for wildlife and is used in prairie restorations, as a screen, or in mixed borders. Some cultivars offer different heights and foliage colors.
- USDA Hardy Zones: 4-9
- Light: Full sun to light shade
- Soil: Average to poor, well-drained soil
- Colors: Blue-green foliage turning golden-yellow; reddish-purple flower panicles
Blue Oat Grass
Blue Oat Grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens) is a cool-season, evergreen grass native to Europe. It forms dense, rounded clumps 2-3 feet tall and wide. The plant features narrow, arching leaves with a distinct blue-gray color. In early summer, it produces tall stems with oat-like seed heads that rise above the foliage.
Blue Oat Grass is drought-tolerant once established and prefers well-drained soil. It works well in rock gardens, as a specimen plant, or in mixed borders. The grass maintains its blue color throughout the year, providing winter interest. It is deer-resistant and relatively low-maintenance.
- USDA Hardy Zones: 4-9
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Well-drained, average to poor soil
- Colors: Blue-gray foliage, tan seed heads
This was exactly what I was looking for. Perfect timing Thank you
Please tell, what is the name of the feature grass that’s on home page?
Pink seed heads and a red touch on the leaves? Is it a Penstimon?
What’s the name of the plant on the front page
Looks like it’s crimson fountain grass
Can you please give the name of the grass on your title page?
Apologies if it is one of the ones in the article but for some reason there were no photos of the last 3 or 4 you have listed.
I would also like to know the name of that grass on the title page.